Ben Hubbert, co-owner of Champion AC, is a former member of Special Operations in the Air Force, who's now committed to helping San Antonio reduce our community's demands on the energy grid. Visit championac.com or twitter.com/championac or call (210) 699-0022 for more information.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Some Tips for the Dog Days of Summer

Remember several weeks ago when we were all talking about how mild of a summer it has been?

Well, forget that. This past week or two has been brutal. In fact, it’s been really brutal. I’m talking “100-degree heat and high humidity” brutal.

Because of the heat, most of us have our AC units blowing full blast right now. It’s understandable. So consider this a friendly reminder about a couple of things regarding your AC unit.

Replace your AC filter on a regular basis

I know we’ve talked about this before, but I just want to make sure you realize the importance. Clean air filters make your AC run more efficiently and improve the air quality inside your home. You’re usually reminded to change your filter every three months or so – but in the extreme months of summer and winter, it’s not a bad idea to change them every month. You can get a new filter at HEB or any home improvement store for just a couple of bucks.

Make sure your AC is tuned up

We usually get a flood of people calling in about AC tune-ups in the spring, which is the recommended time to get work like this done – but it is never too late. An AC tune-up costs around $50 and is just like keeping the oil changed in your car. It helps your AC run more effectively and helps improve its shelf life, as well. You don’t want your AC unit struggling to blow out cool air, especially in these temperatures.

Saying all that, hope you’re able to stay cool in these dog days of summer!

(Ben Hubbert formerly served in Special Ops in the Air Force, and he’s now the co-owner of Champion Air Conditioning in San Antonio, Texas. Connect with Ben on Google+.)